Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-02-18

description OF ms pig case, Wneie uhe leglA-
lature interfered by granting Il new trial
without notice TO the other party, by their
act, which was pronounced void, first by .
justice of the peace, and secondly by the
court Of common pleas. This court, being
ordered 10y the Legislature to open the case
and retry it after full argument and hear
ing both sides, refused to obey the mandate
Of the legislature, and of course the iudg
ment was not reversed or vacated, and thus
all proceedings ended.
Mr.. Mason says. did but little towards .
improving my farm in Westmoreland. | .
made a small garden, and planted few |
trees for fruit and shade. | had no time,
if l had been inclined, to give due attention
to raising good crops. left the whole con
troll to my farmer.
MIR. MASON REMOVES TO wALPoLE-THE LAW
YERs ABOUT HIM.
became tired Of my situation and in
the fall Of the year 1894 | moved TO Wal
pole, six miles up the river Walpole was
then IA place of more business than any in
that vicinity aud n set Of young men,
mostly of the legal profession, extending
from Greenfield, Mass, to Windsor, Vt,
were much in the habit of familiar inter
course there, for the sake of amusement
aud recreation. They occasionally met at
tavcrns but more commonly at the sessions
of the courts, and freely INDUCED in gam
bling, excessive drinking and such like dis
sipatiou. Most Of them were men of some
refinement in their manners, and good tai
ents | rejoice that ! am able TO say with
truth that | did not belong to them, and
never associuted with them in their dissipn
tions. My poor friend Col Moore, who had
been a leader among them. and was already
ruined. served rs IA warning beacon added
to this was the friendly advice of Mr.
West. for whom ] early entertained the
most rcvercntial esteem and respect Mr.
West was by far the best lawyer, and in all
respects the most respectable man in that
region. He was educated at Princeton col
lege. believe, and commenced the practice
Of the law at Charlestown, y. H.. before
the close Of the revolutionary war He had
good natural powers Of mind, quick and
clear perception, a delicate taste, "a sound
judgment, and lively imagination. Hi, style
of speaking was simple, natural smooth aud
mild always pure and neat, and sometimes
eloquent. with good person, clear and
pleasant voice. much carnestness and mp
parent sincerity, he was altogether most
persuasive speaker. In arguing eases of
complicated and doubtful evidence before
jury, have seldom if ever, heard his equal
In the discussion Of questions Of law he WIS
less able
JOSEPH DENNIE--A NOTED CHARACTER.
Mr. Mason adds, Soon after / came to
Wnlpole, Joseph Denne, who had studied
law in Mr.. Benjamin Vests office and had
| Just been admitted 20 the courts, came to
reside in that village under the pretense of
practicing law. His legal knowledge con
sisted wholly Of choice selection of quaint
obsolete and queer phrases from Plowden's
| Commentaries, the only law book he had
| ever read with attention, and this was read
| for the sole purpose of treasuring up in his
memory these quaint phrases These he
| often repeated in ridicule Of the law, To the
| great amusement Of his audience. He was
| the most Prial, refined and highly sublimat
ed spirit it has ever been my hap to meet
| He was graduated at Cambridge college in
the class of 1880, and against his own in
clination and 10y the advice of his friends
he undertook to study law. With u good
share Of native genius he had a delicate
and accurate taste, much cultivated by AN
ardent study Of the English classics, with
which he was thoroughly imbued His Ian
guage in common conversation, without the
appearance of stiffness or pedantry, was
always pure and classical He early deter
mined upon the life of an author, and he
deemed it necessary 10 avoid the use of low
or vulgar language in conversation, in or
der to be secure against it in writing. High
ly excited 10y reading Gibbons Decline
and Fall of the Roman Empire he deter
mined to essay the history Of his own coun-
try. His powers of conversation were Of
the highest order He had slender and
feeble frame, and was often much depressed
10y bad health but when in good health and
spirits think have never known a more
eloquent and delightful talker. Shortly af-
ter he came to Walpole he established and
wrote rs editor for the Farmers Museum, a
village newspaper. His abilities attracted
attention and soon gained for the paper an
extensive circulation Col. Timothy Pick
ering, when Secretary Of State, appointed
him clerk in his department. The duties
imposed upon him were 10 correct any in
accuracies he might lind in language or
style of the correspondence Of his office
Dennie delayed his acceptance until Picker
ing retired on account of differences with
President Adams. Marshall afterwards
chief JUSTICE succeeded Pickering, and, find
ing that Dennie had been appointed clerk
again and again solicited him to proceed to
Philadelphia and take this office but the
evil genius of Donnie 81 predOmlnated as
to prevent him from enjoying the benefits
of the office a few years afterwards he
did 90 to Philadelphia, where he established
the Portfolio periodical which was sus
tanned mainly by his pen. This publication
hal an extensive circulation, and his pro-
auctions in it were highly esteemed by the
most competent judges for their correct,
pure, classical taste, He found little con
geniality Of feeling or support in Philadel-
phia, and denied that the chief citizens had
any just claim To literary merit. He wrote
often under the name of "Oliver Old
School After suffering severely from i'll
health, Denne died in 1872
5 RoYALL TYLER OF VERMONT.
In those days, while | resided at Walpoe
often saw Royal Tyler of Brattleboro, Vt
5 He was afterwards chief justice of the Yer
; mont court lie was graduated at Harvard
$ in li76. With reputable natural talents
/ he had brilliant wit and great powers fol
| amusing conversation, and thereby attract
t ed around him the society especially of young
70 men.
!. ANOTHER VERMONT CHARACTER.
c Another extraordinary character Of thai
i time and region was John w. Blake of Brat
i tleboro His manners were easy, graceful
i and very agreeable, He was fluent, having
p an inexhaustible fund of anecdotes, whicl
a made him an enticing and pleasant com
n panion But he was ruined by dissipate'
. habits
wM COLEMAN AND THE n. Y. EVENING POST
> Another Of the extraordinary men VIII
frequented that region was William Cole
e man of Greenfield, Mass. afterwards edito
Is of the New York Evening Post, establishe,
G under the special patronage of Alexande
IS Hamilton. He was of humble origin hav
u ing been born in the Boston poorhouse. b.
a great industry and persevering diligence h
1 III, l..